![hidden water containers hidden water containers](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4300/35941973950_634f49f928.jpg)
![hidden water containers hidden water containers](https://www.mehler-texnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/3-24.jpg)
Phones are composed of many pieces created in multiple steps, and each step consumes water. Their water footprint comes from the virtual water associated with their manufacturing – what’s known as the “ grey water footprint.”
![hidden water containers hidden water containers](https://cloutwatches.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/1105384184-1.jpg)
How Much Virtual Water is in a Smart Phone? Grey Water Footprint: The amount of freshwater required to dilute the wastewater generated in manufacturing, in order to maintain water quality, as determined by state and local standards. Green Water Footprint: The amount of rainwater required (evaporated or used directly) to make an item. The Water Footprint Network (whose research provides some of the data used in the WFC) defines these components as:īlue Water Footprint: The amount of surface water and groundwater required (evaporated or used directly) to produce an item. SOURCES: Berger et al Water Footprint Network, “Water footprints of nations” Friends of the Earth/Trucost WFN, “The water footprint of cotton consumption” WFN, “The water footprint of wood for lumber, pulp, paper, fuel and firewood” Water Footprint of Common Consumer Items. The water footprint of a product is calculated by adding up all of the water required for each step of the production process. Table 1 lists a sampling of water footprints for the manufacturing of some common consumer goods. Hidden water is water that is not felt or seen and it is required for almost every step in the production processes for many raw materials and finished products. Hidden Water: How the Water Footprints of Consumer Goods are Calculated Knowing how much water it takes to make the raw materials and products we all use and consume is an important first step towards water conservation and using water more productively. Manufacturing everyday materials like paper, plastic, metal and fabric takes water – a lot of it. It may not be visible, but millions of gallons of virtual water go into making the consumer goods Americans buy, use and throw away. Hidden water is an important part of water use.